Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 305, 30 December 1935, Page 4

Town Talk

*** The “Chronicle” will not be published next Wednesday, New Year’s Day, but will be published as usual on Thursday, January 2. Up-River Excursions. , A large crowd of picnickers journeyed up the Wanganui River in the river steamer on Bunday and spent an enjoyable day. A moonlight excursion was run at night and was well patronised. An orchestra on board the steamer entertained the excursionists, who spent an enjoyable time. Castlecliff Beach. Despite the westerly wind, which prevailed yesterday and the cool conditions, there was quite a fair number of swimmers at the Castlecliff Beach. The water, however, was warm and the majority of swimmers found it more congenial in the water than on the beach. The Castlecliff Surf Section of the Royal Life-saving Society was in attendance and gave several demonstrations but a reavy run down the coatt made their work difficult. ‘ ‘lnto the Cup.” One of the interesting shots played during the North Island tennis tournament at Wanganui caused a great deal of merriment. It was played by 11. C. Cox (Wanganui) with a characteristic smash at the net, and the ball bounced beautifully into a cup of water behind the baseline. It refused to come out und Cox had to call on the assistance of one of the girls who were assisting in the ice cream stall. Between them they managed to extract the erring ball from its temporary prison while the crowd looked on and laughed. When it was free again it was too wet to play with and a new ball was obtained before the set proceeded. Broken Water Main. A broken water main in Victoria Avenue, late on Saturday afternoon, was responsible for the supply being temponly cut off between Mu ria I’lace and Ridgv.ay Street. The break oc curred near the Post Office corner and though city council workmen lost no time in repairing the main, situated nearly live feet below the surface of the road, the supply could not be restored before 10 p.m. The pipe in question, however, did not select an opportune moment for its holiday surprise. Shortly after the occurrance a large party of tourists from the Orient liner Orama arrived at one of thp city hotels and were inconvenienced owing to the water supply being cut off. Tourists Visit Wanganui. About 69 tourists from the Orient liner Urania spent Saturday night in Wanganui while en route from Auckland to Wellington. The visitors were mostly Australians and arrived at Auckland from Brisbane on Friday. The vessel was to have cleared "Wellington early this morning for Sydney. The Wanganui quota arrived by service cars from National Park, and after leaving Auckland visited Rotorua, the Waitoma Caves, and other scenic resorts. They left Wanganui for Wellington yesterday morning. The Grama, the third tourist ship to visit New Zealand thL- month, brought oyer 800 tourists. There were only 13 ordinary passengers for Auckland. Airman Who is Not Superstitious. An airman who is nut troubled by superstition Mr. G. \\. Sellars, of Auckland, an expert parachutist, who is at present on a visit to Wanganui. Mr. Sellars made his first flight in an aeroplane on Friday, November L>, .1931. At the time ho also took his first lesion in flying. He has since made many flights and after an extensive period of training at Wigrani qualified as a skilled parachute jumper, Mr. Sellars is now travelling the North Island and giving practical demonstrations in the use of parachutes. He is. of the opinion that if the device is properly packed and manipulated the possibility of misadventure is very slight. Southern Cargoes. Two coastal vessels, the s.s. Holmdale and the m.v. Gale, arrived at Wanganui yesterday with general cargo from southern ports. The Gale loaded at Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Lyttelton, and 'Wellington last week, and is on her second visit to Wanganui since entering the Dunedin-Wellington-W anganui service. The Holmdale, which visited the tame southern ports last week also came via Wellington, omitting Picton, a regular port of call. Both vessels will work the Town Wharf today and will sail later for Wellington. The s.s. Storm, which discharged a southern cargo on Saturday, has since sailed for Lyttelton where she will be docked for her annual overhaul and purvey. North Island Tennis Tourney. The North Island tennis tournament, which was concluded at Wanganui on Saturday, was terminated with social festivities in the evening. There was a cabaret dance at the Elrick, which followed a dinner at the Rutland Hotel. The tournament was a delightful one and the visiting players enjoyed themselves. The weather was extremely kirfd and although the number of entries was smaller than in former years the standard of tennis was higher. Clashing of dates was responsible in some measure for the lesser entry, the Wellington. championships drawing quite a number of players who would otherwise have come to Wanganui. It was stated by the president of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association (Mr. G. H. Pownall) on Saturday, that it was the intention of the New Zealand Association to devote a great deal of care to the framing of the tournament roster next season. Waited in Vain. Some W’anganui people badly misjudged the All Blacks’ itinerary in Great Britain and were astir this morning at 9 o’clock to hear the result of the Test match with England. A kindly announcer “put them wise” as to their error of judgment, and, with a laugh, they dismissed the matter and perhaps went back to bed. They did not fare quite as badly as one family anJ a next-door neighbour, who set an alarm and rose at 1.45 a.m. to listen, in to a description of the actual play. There was no enlightening annoncer to tell them their mistake. Static greeted their repeated twisting of the radio dials atid they were xK»t made aware that the Test ’is to be played next Saturday until thje youngest member of the family, six years old, woke up and told them, and definitely pointed to an Au Blacks’ calendar upon the head of his bed to prove it. The party “took back” all it said about the Broadcasting Board, and went to sleep again.